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The 13 Best Valentine’s Day Gifts For the Gym Rat

Finding the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the gym-lover doesn’t have to be tricky. Whether his idea of the perfect day starts and ends with protein powder or a WOD, or if he is addicted to Peloton or FlyWheel, he’ll love the gift ideas below. These 13 gifts are great for everyone from the yogi to the rock climber.

Get Cairn

The perfect gift for the outdoorsman, this subscription box allows users to test out everything from a Rumpl blanket to Thermarest sleeping pad to a Hydro Flask mug to Picky Bars. Each box is curated to the users’ needs, whether they’re really into cycling, running or hiking. Pick from a monthly or quarterly delivery to test out gear, food, skin care, apparel and emergency products. It’s the gift that won’t stop.

SoulCycle x Lululemon Exclusive T.H.E. Short Gray

These super lightweight shorts work just as well in an indoor cycling class as they do boxing. The shorts are linerless, sweat-wicking and quick-drying. If the temperatures spike and it’s warm enough to head out on a run mid-winter, these reflect and will be seen by fellow cyclists and cars alike.

Rapha Weekend Bag

While this bag is built for weekend cycling trips, it also works beautifully as a gym bag. It’ll hold enough sweaters for a short getaway as well as all the gear needed for a day at work. The durable all-black material looks great and the interior is filled with pockets for everything from your phone to laptop. A sleek design adds some elegance to an otherwise simple-looking exterior. Carry it as a duffle or add a strap to wear as a messenger.

Vuori Sunday Performance Jogger

These are the sweatpants to slip on to get to and from the gym, but once they’re on, they might not come off. Vuori’s high-performance sweats tackle the indoor climbing walls without breaking a sweat and then go straight to the game. Vuori’s fabric is smooth, sleek and cozy all in one. Blend that with quick-drying and moisture-wicking features and these pants will never get Marie Kondo’ed.

Rhone Celliant Seamless 1/4 Zip

Rhone’s minimalist vibe shines in the gym, on the golf course and in transit. The seamless quarter-zip won’t scratch while running or shooting hoops. A body-hugging fit means the pull-over will stretch and mimic every movement and the SilverTech threads help keep the quarter-zip stink-free by destroying odor-causing bacteria.

Merrell Ontario Mid

If the idea of a perfect day includes heading out on the trails but is constrained to the conundrum of city living, these Merrell hikers are a great compromise. These boots come with a full grain leather upper and blue laces, plus a Vibram Megagrip outsole. The pair is sharp and rugged. Whether tackling the AT or a local trail, the Ontario Mid will protect feet and ankles. Pick up a pair in black, olive, dark brown or tan.

Larq Bottle

The bottle uses UV-C light to clean its insides, so there’s no grime left behind after daily use. In other reusable water bottles, it’s easy to notice the build-up along the lid or inside — and sometimes there’s even a smell. While it can be simple to clean with a sponge, this bottle eliminates that hassle. Charge the lid with a USB, and it’ll keep the bottle clean for up to two months. Water stays cold for 24 hours in this 17-ounce bottle. While the price tag is high for a reusable water bottle, the money you save on cleaning supplies and throw-away bottles make this worth it.

West + Wilder Wine

It’s hard to beat the feeling of sitting around the campfire with a beer in your hand — unless you prefer wine. That’s the reason Kenny Rochford and Matt Allan started West + Wilder in early 2018. A bottle of wine doesn’t lend itself to a camping trip or a day at the beach due to its sometimes cavernous and heavy glass. These 8.4-ounce cans come in packs of three, the equivalent of a 750-milliliter bottle of wine (what is typically sold in the grocery store). Right now there are four types to choose from: rosé, white, sparkling rosé or sparkling white.

Polar Vantage V

This top-of-the-line tracker is perfect for the athlete in your life. The most exciting feature in this new tracker is the ability for it to measure running power — typically you need a foot pod to gauge that, but thanks to optical heart rate measurement, skin contact sensors, your GPS and barometer data, all you need is this around your wrist. Polar Vantage V also monitors your training load so it can tell you when it’s time to take a day off. Pick an orange, white or black band to pair with the silver bezel.

Arc’teryx Aptin Zip Hoody

When running or skiing during the winter months, a durable hoody that contains warmth and knows when to let it breathe is essential. This hoody will help you ease into the first few miles, then prevent overheating. Arc’teryx teamed up with Polartec to use Power Dry fleece that helps spread out sweat, so it evaporates into the air faster. Akrose, a polyester fabric, starts at the rib cage and stretches up to the shoulders to stop the wind from piercing on summits and street corners.

Tracksmith NDO Vest

While the polar vortex has lifted its grip on the Midwest and East Coast, there’s still potentially a lot of cold weather in the near future. The NDO vest traps the exact amount of heat you need to keep going, to help combat the frigid temperature on runs, hikes or bike rides, all while letting the arms breathe. Tracksmith tapped The Woolmark Company to test out Schoeller wool in its vest form. Unlike down or fleece vests, this one won’t wet out, it blocks the wind, is airy and not bulky in the slightest.

Society6 Guitar in Abstract Yoga Mat

This yoga mat encourages all types of practice, whether the goal is to perfect a headstand or enjoy Savasana once a week. At 3.6-pounds this musical yoga mat isn’t a beast to carry to class or just into the other room. It is also nice enough to leave out, but it does come with a 1.5-inch carrying strap, so it is also a breeze to store.

Theragun G3Pro

Recovery is an integral part to every athletes’ success. While elites enjoy weekly massages and a personal physical therapist, that might not be accessible to the general public. The next best thing is a massage tool. The Theragun G3Pro is a third iteration handheld massager and claims to be 50 percent quieter than its predecessors. In just 15 minutes it can work out any kinks, activate muscles for a warm up and then post-workout, help with a cool down. The six varieties of attachments work on large muscle groups, those tricky IT bands, lower back, trigger point therapy and tender areas.